The management of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has explained that 648 students have been asked to defer their courses for failing to pay their fees to meet the registration deadline.
In a press statement reacting to some media reports that suggested that about 2000 students have been dismissed for failing to pay their fees, the university explained that the total was 648 students and that they could not write their second-semester examination because they could not meet the registration deadline.
They have however been asked to defer their programmes.
The university said no student has been sacked, but those who did not register for the second semester of 2022/2023 Academic Year have been asked to defer their programmes.
The press statement dated August 12, 2023 explained that the university extended the deadline for students to register on three occasions, but a significant number of students still failed to do so.
“The deadline for students to register was originally May 29, 2023, but it was extended to June 5, July 9, and July 28. The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) then asked for another extension.
“Despite the Executives of the SRC setting a deadline of 3rd August 2023, the University added a human face and formally ended course registration for students on 7th August 2023, when even the End-of-Second-Semester Examination had begun. After these many concessions, there are still 648 students who have not registered, as opposed to the 2,000 that some media houses had stated.”
“It must be noted that contrary to what was falsely claimed, the University’s Academic Board took this decision, and not the Chancellor, the Honorable Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor.”
Meanwhile, the students are appealing to the academic board of the University to allow them to write the exams, although the University has granted them a deferment opportunity.
One of the affected students, Adofo Silas Denkyira said “We know we have erred but, they should temper justice with mercy. The economic situation would not allow us to meet the deadline. We want to write the exams now.”
“I paid the fees late and I wasn’t able to do the registration. The day we were writing the exams, they said it was a deadline, but we didn’t see any notice. After paying the fees, we were asked to pay the penalty which was GH¢100, we were told to go to IT for registration, we were told they had closed registration when we reached there. We reported to the registrar and he told us that there was nothing he can do about it. They later said they will have a meeting and get back to us, they later told us that we have to defer.” one of the affected students explained.
The President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Kwadwo Mensah said the student leadership is still discussing with the academic board to find common ground.
“Management put out notices but students could not register because they complained of economic hardship. We understand the issue and the SRC is not redundant,” he said.
